Good afternoon, everyone.
Before I start with the minister, I would just like to let the rest of the committee know we had a very successful trip to the western United States, and I have to thank the clerk and the analysts here for pulling that trip together. It was a very busy, active, productive trip, and I have to thank committee members for keeping up with the pace.
We definitely had the Canadian flag flown down there for us. It was a good interaction, and I hope that continues when we travel to the rest of the United States. So thank you, everybody, for being co-operative, and again, thanks to the people who organized it.
Minister, welcome.
Thank you for taking the time to come here. As I told you, this is the most vibrant, hard-working, influential, and handsome committee on the Hill.